COURTHOUSE — Calling a Reading man “a danger to society,” a judge sent him to state prison for placing a bag over the head of a commercial bus driver, groping her and risking a catastrophe as the bus traveled along Route 422.

“I find you to be a danger to society,” Montgomery County President Judge William J. Furber Jr. said as he sentenced Carlos Perez Rodriguez to 4-to-12 years in state prison. “I do not find redeeming qualities in Mr. Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez, in my mind, is a very dangerous person.”

Rodriguez, 37, of Nottingham Court, pleaded guilty to charges of risking a catastrophe, recklessly endangering other persons and indecent assault in connection with the March 2011 bus incident that unfolded in Upper Providence.

Assistant District Attorney Kelly Lloyd argued for a state prison sentence against Rodriguez, calling his conduct “terrifying.”

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“This is an extremely traumatic incident for the bus driver. To be on a bus going 55 mph on a highway and to have someone throw a bag over your head and then to finally get the bag off and he’s standing there exposed and molesting you, it’s totally egregious and the type of crime that calls for state time,” Lloyd argued.

“Who knows what could have happened if she wasn’t able to get that bag off. She could have wrecked in traffic. People could have been killed by this defendant’s reckless actions. There could have been deaths all-around. It’s terrifying,” added Lloyd, pointing to the danger faced by the passengers on the bus and other drivers on Route 422.

In a victim impact statement submitted to the judge, the bus driver indicated she is unable to drive the Route 422 bus schedule, resulting in a loss of income, and is now distrustful and fearful of people when they tap her on the shoulder or get on her bus with a bag. Bieber Tourways also submitted an impact statement to the judge, indicating the company had to train new drivers for the Route 422 schedule, according to testimony.

Rodriguez apologized for his conduct even though he claimed he does not remember it, implying that at the time he had not taken his medications for anxiety and depression.

“I feel bad. I never did something like that. I apologize for what happened,” Rodriguez told the judge.

“It’s a sad commentary on society generally. You have a relatively young guy, clear mental health problems, clear drug issues, a really difficult upbringing and environment,” Tompkins said. “You can point all those things out but at some point the judge has to make the tough call.”

“I understand exactly why the judge imposed the sentence that he imposed because this is a pretty serious episode,” Tompkins added. “I give credit to the bus driver for reacting as well as she did under very difficult circumstances. (Rodriguez) has been consistent since day one that he does not recall what happened. I’m convinced that he didn’t mean to do it, but in some ways that’s even scarier because it happened.”

Reading from a background report about Rodriguez, the judge indicated Rodriguez has a lengthy criminal record with convictions for assault, burglary and drug offenses in several states. Rodriguez told a court official he has lost 20 friends to gun violence and that he once suffered stab wounds and didn’t expect to live past his 20s. Rodriguez, according to testimony, also reported feeling homicidal in the past when he got angry.

Evaluators also determined Rodriguez is a high risk to reoffend.

Rodriguez, according to a criminal complaint filed by state police at Philadelphia, was one of several passengers on the westbound commercial bus, traveling from Philadelphia to Reading at 11 p.m. March 24, when he got out of his seat and walked toward the front of the bus.

“He put a plastic bag over the bus driver’s head blocking her view of the roadway, causing a hazardous condition for the passengers of the bus and other motorists on the roadway,” alleged state police Trooper Patrick S. Ruddy. “At that time, the bus was traveling approximately 55 mph on the four-lane highway.”

The incident unfolded as the bus neared the Oaks interchange of Route 422 in Upper Providence, court papers indicate.

The driver was able to remove the bag from her head and when she did she observed Rodriguez’s pants were pulled down and his genitals were exposed, according to the arrest affidavit. Rodriguez also groped the female bus driver in an indecent manner, police said.

The driver yelled at Rodriguez and was able to pull the bus to the side of the road. Due to the bus company policy, the driver could not leave Rodriguez on the side of the road, Ruddy alleged.

The driver escorted Rodriguez back to his seat as his pants were still around his ankles, police said. Rodriguez remained in his seat until he was dropped off at the Reading City Bus Terminal on North Third Street where he was met by Reading police, according to court papers.